Optically active amino acid sulphoxide and amino acid sulphone derivatives

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to new optically active amino acid derivatives of the general formula (I) ##STR1## in which n, R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , X and A have the meaning given in the description, which amino acid derivatives contain sulphoxide or sulphone groups, to two basic synthetic routes for the preparation from sulphur-containing amino acids, to the polymerization of these monomers and to the use of the polymers as optically active adsorbents for chromatographic resolution of racemates to give the enantiomers.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/081,537, filed Jun. 23, 1993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,001.

The invention relates to new optically active amino acid derivatives containing sulphoxide or sulphone groups, to two basic synthetic routes for their preparation from sulphur-containing amino acids, to the polymerisation of these monomers and to the use of the polymers as optically active adsorbents for chromatographic resolution of racemates to give the enantiomers.

Resolution of biologically active racemates to give the enantiomers has recently gained more and more importance because it was found that the enantiomers of a racemate usually differ considerably in activity and side effects. Accordingly, in most cases, there is a great interest in pharmacology or toxicology in having sufficient amounts of both enantiomers of a chirally active substance available even at the very early development stage of, for example, a new pharmaceutical substance. Chromatographic resolution of racemates can often provide sufficient amounts of both enantiomers for further biological tests (also increasingly in crop protection) easily and within a short period of time at an early stage at which enantioselective synthesis is frequently not yet available and conventional resolution of racemates via diastereomeric salts proceeds only in poor yields.

A wide range of adsorbents for chromatographic resolution of racemates have already been proposed. Adsorbents which so far have proven useful are the polymeric (meth)acrylic acid derivatives of optically active amino compounds described, for example, in EP-A 379,917, if appropriate in a form immobilised on inorganic supports.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that optically active sulphoxides and sulphones (hereinafter called S-oxides) of sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives containing a polymerisable group lead to very interesting new optically active chromatographic adsorbents which in a series of racemates give significantly improved resolution results compared with known resolution materials, in particular sulphur-free or S-oxide-free amino acid derivatives.

Accordingly, the invention relates to optically active amino acid derivatives containing S-oxides and having the formula (I) ##STR2## in which n has the value 1 or 2,

R represents hydrogen, methyl or fluorine,

R₁ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₂ forms a methylene group or a dimethylene group, each of which can be mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl,

R₂ represents a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having up to 10 C atoms, C₆ -C₁₄ -aryl, ##STR3## C₂ -C₁₀ -acyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl or benzyl or together with R₁ forms a bridge,

R₃ represents a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having up to 20 C atoms which is unsubstituted or mono- to trisubstituted by halogen, alkoxy having 1 to 4 C atoms, aralkoxy having 7 to 16 C atoms or aryl having 6 to 10 C atoms,

X denotes oxygen or an NR₄ group in which R₄ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₃ forms a nitrogen-containing 5- to 7-membered ring which may be mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl,

A represents a methylene or dimethylene group which is unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl.

Preferred compounds of the formula (I) are those in which

n has the value 1 or 2,

R represents hydrogen, methyl or fluorine,

R₁ denotes hydrogen or methyl or together with R₂ forms a methylene group, which can be mono- or disubstituted by methyl or monosubstituted by tertiarybutyl, or a dimethylene group,

R₂ represents alkyl having up to 8 C atoms, phenyl, benzyl, benzoyl and, ##STR4## or together with R₁ forms a bridge described there, R₃ represents a C₁₀ -terpenyl radical, an adamantyl radical, a decahydronaphthyl radical, a 1-phenylethyl radical, a C₅ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl radical, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl, or a branched C₃ -C₁₂ -alkyl radical, such as isopropyl, 3-pentyl or 5-heptyl,

X denotes oxygen or an NR₄ group in which R₄ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₃ forms a nitrogen-containing 5- to 7-membered ring which may be unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl,

A represents a methylene, dimethylmethylene or dimethylene unit.

The optically active amino acid derivatives are preferably derived from optically active sulphur-containing amino acids, such as, for example, cysteine, penicillamine or homocysteine. Of particular interest for this purpose are compounds whose SH function is alkylated, such as, for example, in S-methyl-cysteine, S-benzyl-cysteine, S-methyl-penicillamine, methionine, ethionine or butionine, or acylated, such as, for example, in S-acetyl-cysteine, or alkoxycarbonylmethylated such as, for example, in S-menthoxycarbonylmethyl-cysteine, or is linked to the amino group via an alkylene bridge, such as, for example, in thioproline, 2,2-dimethyl-thioproline, 5,5-dimethylthioproline or 2-tert.-butylthioproline.

For R₃, the use of optically active radicals is particularly advantageous, for example of the 1-phenylethyl, 1-(1-naphthylethyl), 1-(2-naphthylethyl), of the d- or 1-menthyl, d- or 1-neomenthyl, d- or 1-bornyl, d- or 1-fenchyl, of the d- or 1-pinanyl radical or of the 3-methylenylpinanyl radical.

The optically active S-oxide-containing amino acid derivatives according to the invention of the formula (I) can be prepared by reaction of optically active amino acid S-oxides of the formula (II) ##STR5## in which n, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given under formula (I) ,

or acid addition products thereof with acryloyl derivatives of the formula (III) ##STR6## in which R has the meaning given under the formula (I) and

Y represents fluorine, chlorine or bromine or the radical ##STR7## if appropriate in the presence of an acid-binding agent in inert organic solvents.

Suitable acid addition compounds of the amino acid S-oxides to be used as starting materials are salts of these amino acid S-oxides with inorganic or organic acids. Preference is given to mineral acids, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, or organic acids, such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methane-, ethane-, benzene- or toluenesulphonic acid.

Suitable solvents are any organic solvents which are inert under the reaction conditions. Preference is given to hydrocarbons, such as toluene, petroleum ether, or halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, dichloroethane or trichloroethylene, or ethers, such as tert.-butyl methyl ether.

Suitable acid-binding agents are in particular the customary inorganic or organic bases; the preferably used bases are alkali metal hydroxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide or barium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonates or alkaline earth metal carbonates, such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, alkali metal alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium tert.-butoxide, or amines, such as triethylamine or pyridine.

Reaction of the acryloyl derivatives of the formula (III) with the S-oxides of the formula (II) is preferably carried out at temperatures of -78° to +100° C., in particular of -20° to +60° C.

The optically active amino acid S-oxides of the formula (II) used as starting compounds can be prepared by processes known per se.

If, in the case of the sulphoxides (n=1 in formula (II)), it is desired to obtain the diastereomerically and enantiomerically pure compounds of the formula (II), oxidation of the sulphur is advantageously carried out at the stage of the free, sulphur-containing amino acid, using, for example, hydrogen peroxide. The mixture of diastereomers (new asymmetric centre on sulphur) formed in this case can be resolved by the difference in solubility of diastereomeric salts.

Oxidation of the free amino acid L-methionine to the sulphoxide, followed by resolution of the 1:1 mixture of diastereomers via the difference in solubility of the picrates in water is known. The diastereomer with (S)-configuration on the sulphur can be obtained from the sparingly solvent picrate and the diastereomer with (R) configuration on the sulphur from the soluble picrate by releasing it using n-pentylamine.

The further route is via known processes of peptide chemistry, such as introduction of an N-protecting group (for example tert.-butoxycarbonyl), preparation of the ester or amide by coupling with the corresponding alcohols or amines (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide method or activation by mixed anhydride using chloroformic ester) and elimination of the N-protecting group to give compounds of the formula (II).

The sulphones (n=2 in formula (II)) can basically also be prepared by the synthetic route described above. Here, of course, resolution of the diastereomers at the beginning is omitted.

In a second, alternative synthetic route, oxidation of the sulphur is not carried out until the last step takes place. This method is suitable in particular for sulphones (n=2 in formula (I)) and 1:1 mixtures of diastereomers of sulphoxides (n=1 in formula (I)). The optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives according to the invention of the formula (I) are in this case obtained by oxidation of optically active sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV) ##STR8## in which R, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given under formula (I) ,

with oxidising agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium metaperiodate, 3-chloroperbenzoic acid, magnesium monoperoxyphthalic acid, the triple salt of Caro's acid (KHSO₅ ×KHSO₄ ×K₂ SO₄) and other oxygen carriers which are suitable to convert thioethers into sulphoxides and sulphones.

Suitable solvents are in particular alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, acetic acid, water and methylene chloride and mixtures of these solvents.

Oxidation of the sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV) is preferably carried out at temperatures of -78° C. to +100° C., particularly preferably -20° C. to +60° C.

Preferably, 1 to 1.5 equivalents of oxidising agent are used for preparing the sulphoxide (n=1, formula (I)) and 2 to 3 equivalents of oxidising agent are used for preparing the sulphone (n=2, formula (I)) in each case from the sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV).

The optically active sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV) used as starting compounds can be prepared by methods known per se from peptide chemistry (cf. route to (I) via (II) but in each case n=0).

An abbreviated process for obtaining the starting materials of the formula (IV) which omits the protective group chemistry uses the direct reaction of the free amino acid in basic medium with the corresponding acryloyl derivatives of the formula (III) and the coupling of the N-acryloylated amino acids with the corresponding amines or alcohols (R₃ -X-H) using ethyl 1,2-di-hydro-2-ethoxyquinoline-l-carboxylate (EEDQ method) or N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC method).

The invention also relates to the optically active polymers and copolymers obtainable by polymerisation or copolymerisation of the optically active acryloylamino acid S-oxide derivatives of the formula (I) which polymers and copolymers contain at least 40 mol %, preferably at least 50 mol %, of structural units of the formula (V), ##STR9## in which n, R, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given under formula (I).

The optically active polymers according to the invention of the formula (V) are preferably in the form of crosslinked insoluble but swellable bead polymers or in a form bound to finely divided inorganic support materials, such as, for example, silica gel. They can also be prepared as linear polymers which are soluble in suitable organic solvents. Furthermore, it is possible to copolymerise various sulphur-containing acryloylamino acid S-oxide derivatives according to the invention of the formula (I) and to incorporate in the polymers 0.1 to 60, preferably 0.1 to 20 mol % of copolymerisable other monomers.

The crosslinked polymers are preferably present in the form of small particles (beads) having a particle diameter of 5 to 200 μm. They are prepared, for example, by suspension polymerisation of the optically active sulphur-containing acryloylamino acid S-oxide derivatives of the formula (I) with 0.5 to 50 mol %, preferably 1 to 30 mol %, particularly preferably 3 to 20 mol %, (relative to the total amount [mol] of the monomers used) of a suitable crosslinking agent in a manner known per se.

The degree of swelling of the (bead) polymers can be adjusted by the type and amount of the crosslinking agents and the solvent using customary methods.

In practical application, (bead) polymers having a degree of swelling (DS) of 1.1 to 12.0, preferably 2.0 to 6.0, have proven suitable.

The degree of swelling DS is determined as follows: ##EQU1##

Suitable crosslinking agents are compounds containing at least two polymerisable vinyl groups. Preferred crosslinking agents are alkanediol diacrylates, such as 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,3-propanediol diacrylate or 1,2-ethylene glycol diacrylate, or alkanediol dimethacrylates, such as 1,4-, 1,3- or 2,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,3-propanediol dimethacrylate or 1,2-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, aromatic divinyl compounds, such as, for example, divinylbenzene, divinylchlorobenzene or divinyltoluene, divinyl dicarboxylates, such as divinyl adipate, divinyl benzenedicarboxylates, divinyl terephthalates, N,N'-alkylenediacrylamides, such as N,N'-methylenediacrylamide, N,N'-ethylenediacrylamide, N,N'-methylenedimethacrylamide, N,N'-ethylenedimethacrylamide or N,N'-di-methyl-ethylenediacrylamide. N,N',N"-tris(acryloyl)-1,3,5-perhydrotriazine or N,N',N"-bis(acryloyl)piperazine can also be used.

Suitable free radical formers are the customary free radical formers. Preference is given to peroxides, such as, for example dibenzoyl peroxide, dilauroyl peroxide or di-ortho-toluoyl peroxide, peresters, such as tert.-butyl perpivalate or tert.-butyl peroctanoate, or azo compounds, such as, for example, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Mixtures of various free radical formers can also be used.

The polymerisation components are dissolved in a water-immiscible organic solvent, preferably an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, such as hexane, heptane, isodecane, benzene or toluene, a halogenated hydrocarbon, such as di-, tri-, tetrachloromethane or 1,2-dichloroethane, an ester, such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate or dialkylcarbonate, or a water-insoluble ketone, such as methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone.

The organic phase is uniformly distributed in the aqueous solution of a protective colloid, preferably in aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone or of a methacrylic acid/methyl methacrylate copolymer by means of an effective stirrer. Approximately 1 to 20, preferably 2 to 10, parts by weight of aqueous phase are used per part by weight of organic phase. The polymerisation mixture is heated in an inert gas atmosphere, preferably under nitrogen, to temperatures of 30° C. to 100° C., preferably 40° C. to 80° C., with stirring. The polymerisation time is 2 to 24, preferably 4 to 12 hours. The copolymer obtained in this manner is separated from the liquid phase by filtration, purified by thorough washing with water and with organic solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, benzene, toluene, di-, trichloromethane or acetone and then dried.

In particular for analytical applications, the optically active polymers according to the invention are preferably used in a form bound to finely divided inorganic supports. Such optically active chromatographic phases can be prepared, for example, by the process described in DE-A 3,706,890.

Preference is given to polymerisation of the optically active sulphur-containing amino acid S-oxide derivatives of the formula (I) in the presence of silica gel/vinyl phases obtainable by known methods, or of silica gel/diol phases esterified with (meth)acrylic acid. This polymerisation can take place in the absence of solvents or in the presence of solvents or of precipitants for the poly-N-acryloylamide S-oxide derivatives. The free radical formers used for preparing the bead polymers can also be used as initiators.

Polymer-modified silica gels preferably contain 1 to 40% by weight, in particular 5 to 30% by weight, of optically active monomer (I) relative to the total weight. They are thoroughly washed with solvents for the polymer and dried in vacuo.

Here, it is of course also possible to use mixtures of two or more of the N-acryoylamino acid S-oxide derivatives, if appropriate also in combination with further copolymerisable monomers.

The invention furthermore relates to the use of the polyacrylamide S-oxides according to the invention as such or in crosslinked form or in a form bound to silica gel for the chromatographic resolution of racemic mixtures to give the optical antipodes. The polymers according to the invention have proven particularly suitable for the chromatographic resolution of hexahydrocarbazole derivatives, such as, for example, 3-r-(4-fluorophenylsulphonamido)-9-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydrocarbazole, benzodiazepines, such as oxazepam, arylpropionamides, such as ketoprofen- and ibuprofenamide, dihydropyridines, such as, for example, 5-methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate, binaphthol, benzoin and hydrobenzoin, stilbene oxide, chlorothalidone, thiaprofenic acid and mandelamide.

Depending on the type and property of the racemate to be resolved, the composition of the eluent can be selected and optimised in the usual manner. For chromatographic resolution of racemates, the polyacrylamide S-oxides according to the invention which are bound to the silica gel can be used under HPLC conditions.

The racemate resolution capacity of the polymers is expressed by the capacity ratios (k'₁(2) values) for the two enantiomers (1) and (2) and the resulting enantio-selectivity value α. These chromatographic parameters are defined as follows: ##EQU2## t₀ =Dead time of the column t₁(2) =Retention time of enantiomer 1 eluted first and enantiomer 2 eluted later

Preparative resolution of racemic mixtures to give their optical antipodes using the polymers according to the invention is preferably carried out by column chromatography. Particularly advantageously, chromatographic resolution is carried out using bead polymers having a specified particle size distribution; good separation efficiencies are obtained with bead polymers having a particle size distribution of 5 to 200 μm, preferably 15 to 100 μm.

The operating methodology of resolution by column chromatography is known. The polymer is usually suspended in the eluent, and the suspension is poured into a glass column. After the eluent has run off, the racemate to be resolved is applied to the column as a solution in the eluent. The product is then eluted using eluent, and the enantiomers in the eluate are detected by photometry and/or polarimetry by means of suitable flow cells.

The eluents used are usually organic solvents or solvent mixtures which swell the polymer used as adsorbent and dissolve the racemate to be resolved. Examples are: hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene or xylene, ethers, such as diethyl ether, tert.-butyl methyl ether, dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as di- or trichloromethane, acetone, acetonitrile or ethyl acetate, alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol or n-butanol, or else mixtures of the solvents mentioned. Mixtures of toluene with tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or isopropanol have proven to be particularly suitable.

EXAMPLES

1) Preparation of the optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (I) from (II) and (III)

Example 1

a) (S)-L-Methionine sulphoxide and (R)-L-methionine sulphoxide

Preparation and resolution of the diastereomeric sulphoxides of L-methionine via the picrates by the procedure of J. Biol. Chem. 169 (1947) 477.

b) (S)-N-BOC-L-Methionine sulphoxide

0.1 mol of NaHCO₃ and 100 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide solution are added to 0.1 mol of (S)-L-methionine sulphoxide in 300 ml of dioxane:water=2:1 at 5° C. 0.11 mol of (BOC)₂ O is added, the mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirring is continued for another 30 minutes. The dioxane is distilled off in a rotary evaporator, the aqueous phase is cooled with ice, covered with a layer of ethyl acetate and brought to a pH of 2-3 by means of 4N KHSO₄ solution. It is saturated with common salt and extracted two more times with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is dried with MgSO₄ and concentrated.

Yield: 13.8 g=52%

[α]_(D) : +91.8° (c=1, H₂ O).

c) (S)-N-BOC-L-Methionine-1-menthylamide sulphoxide

50 mmol of NEt₃ are added to 50 mmol of (S)-N-BOC-L-methionine sulphoxide at 0° C. in 125 ml of absolute THF. 50 mmol of ethyl chloroformate are then added dropwise at -12° C. After 15 minutes, 50 mmol of L-menthylamine are added. Stirring at 0° C. is continued for 30 minutes, and the mixture is then allowed to warm to room temperature. It is concentrated, taken up in CH₂ Cl₂, washed with 1N hydrochloric acid, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated again.

Yield: 20 g=100%

d) (S)-L-Methionine-1-menthylamide sulphoxide

100 ml of freshly distilled trifluoroacetic acid are added dropwise to 50 mmol of (S)-N-BOC-L-methionine-1-menthylamide sulphoxide in 100 ml of CH₂ Cl₂ at 0° C. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and additionally stirred for 1 hour. It is concentrated at room temperature, taken up again in 200 ml of CH₂ Cl₂ and brought to a pH of 12 with 15% strength NaOH at 0° C. with stirring. The organic phase is rapidly separated off, and the aqueous phase is extracted two more times with CH₂ Cl₂. The combined organic phases are back-extracted once with water, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated.

Yield: 15 g=100%

e) (S)-N-Methacryloyl-N-methionine-1-menthylamide sulphoxide

50 mmol of NEt₃ are added to 50 mmol of (S)-N-methacryloyl-N-methionine-1-menthylamide sulphoxide in 40 ml of CH₂ Cl₂ at 0° C. 50 mmol of freshly distilled methacryloyl chloride in 30 ml of CH₂ Cl₂ are added dropwise at -20° C. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature, washed with water, 1N hydrochloric acid and unsaturated NaHCO₃ solution, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The solid is purified by flash chromatography on 300 g of silica gel using CH₂ Cl₂ :MeOH=97:3 as eluent.

Yield: 9 g=50%

M.p.: 174° C.

[α]_(D) : -20.3° (c=1, CHCl₃).

2) Preparation of the optically active S-oxide-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (I) by oxidation of optically active sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV)

Example 3

a) L-Methionine-1-menthyl ester

0.3 mol of L-methionine, 0.39 mol of (-)-menthol and 0.33 mol of p-toluenesulphonic acid monohydrate are heated in 1.2 l of toluene using a water separator. The bath temperature should not exceed 140° C. After 30 hours, a clear solution has been formed and 10 ml of water have been separated off (theory: 11.4 ml).

After cooling, the mixture is brought to a pH of 11 to 12 with 15% strength sodium hydroxide solution, the toluene phase is separated off, and the aqueous phase is extracted two more times with toluene. The combined toluene phases are washed once with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. Excess (-)-menthol is distilled off from the crude product under reduced pressure.

Yield (distillation residue): 71 g=82%

[α]_(D) : -38.1° (c=1, CHCl₃) .

b) N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine 1-menthyl ester

66 mmol of triethylamine are added to 60 mmol of L-methionine 1-menthyl ester in 500 ml of dry dichloromethane at 0° C. The mixture is cooled to -10° C., and 65 mmol of freshly distilled methacryloyl chloride in 50 ml of dichloromethane are added dropwise. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and additionally stirred for 1 hour. It is washed with water, 1N hydrochloric acid and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. The crude product is recrystallised from n-heptane.

Yield: 17.3 g=81%

M.p.: 80°-82° C.

[α]_(D) : -27.3° (c=1, CHCl₃).

c) N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine 1-menthyl ester (R,S)-sulphoxide

20 mmol of N-methacryloyl-L-methionine 1-menthyl ester in 40 ml of methanol are added dropwise to 42 ml of a 0.5M solution of sodium metaperiodate in water at 0° C. After 6 hours, precipitated sodium iodate is filtered off with suction. The filtrate is extracted several times with chloroform. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. The crude product crystallises completely and is recrystallised from n-heptane.

Yield: 6 g=81%

M.p.: 79° C.

[α]_(D) : 33.4° (c=1, CHCl₃).

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): shows 2 diastereomers in the ratio of 1:1

Example 4

N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine 1-menthyl ester sulphone

2.4 Equivalents of 35% strength hydrogen peroxide are added to 15 mmol of N-methacryloyl-L-methionine 1-menthyl ester (see Example 3b)) in 60 ml of glacial acetic acid. The mixture is additionally stirred at 50° C. for 8 hours. The reaction solution is concentrated at room temperature. The crude product is recrystallised from n-heptane.

Yield: 5.35 g=92%

M.p.: 141° C.

[α]_(D) : -18.6° (c=1, CHCl₃).

Example 5

a) N-BOC-L-Methionine-1-menthylamide

0.45 mol of triethylamine is added to 0.45 mol of N-BOC-L-methionine in 1 l of THF at 0° C. The mixture is cooled to -12° C., and 0.45 mol of ethyl chloroformate is added dropwise. Stirring at -12° C. is continued for 20 minutes, and 0.45 mol of L-menthylamine is added dropwise. Stirring at 0° C. is continued for 45 minutes, and the mixture is then allowed to warm to room temperature.

The THF is distilled off; the residue is taken up in 1 l of dichloromethane, and the solution is washed with water and 1N hydrochloric acid, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated again.

Crude yield: 170 g=98% (contains about 14% of N-menthyl-ethylurethane by GC).

b) L-Methionine-1-menthylamide

300 ml of trifluoroacetic acid are added to 0.4 mol of N-BOC-L-methionine-1-menthylamide in 300 ml of dichloromethane at 0° C. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and additionally stirred for 1 hour. The solution is concentrated and again taken up in 500 ml of dichloromethane. It is brought to a pH of 12 with 15% strength sodium hydroxide solution with cooling. The organic phase is separated off. The aqueous phase is extracted two more times with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases are washed with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated.

Crude yield: 102 g=89% (still contains urethane, see above)

c) N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine-1-menthylamide

134 mmol of triethylamine are added to 134 mmol of L-methionine-1-menthylamide in 1.2 l of dichloromethane at 0° C. After cooling to -10° C. 134 mmol of freshly distilled methacryloyl chloride are added dropwise. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and washed with water, 1N hydrochloric acid and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying over magnesium sulphate, the solvent is distilled off. The crystalline crude product is recrystallised from n-heptane.

Yield: 37.3 g=79%

M.p.: 161°-163° C.

[α]_(D) : -63.4° (c=1, CHCl₃).

d) N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine-1-menthylamide (R,S)-sulphoxide

1.2 Equivalents of 35% strength hydrogen peroxide are added to 19 mmol of N-methacryloyl-L-methionine-1 -menthylamide in 50 ml of ethanol at room temperature. Stirring is continued for 18 hours. The reaction solution is concentrated at room temperature. The crude product is crystallised from tert.-butyl methyl ether.

Yield: 5.9 g=84%

M.p.: 155°-158° C.

[α]_(D) : -67° (c=1, CHCl₃).

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): shows 2 diastereomers in the ratio of 1:1

Example 6

N-Methacryloyl-L-methionine-1-menthylamide sulphone

2.4 Equivalents of 35% strength hydrogen peroxide are added to 15 mmol of N-methacryloyl-L-methionine-1-menthylamide (see Example 5c)) in 75 ml of glacial acetic acid, and stirring at 50° C. is continued for 18 hours. After concentrating at room temperature, the product is crystallised from tert.-butyl methyl ether.

Yield: 2.25 g=39%

M.p.: 156° C.

[α]_(D) : -58.2° (C=1, CHCl₃).

Example 7

a) N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine

0.2 mol of S-methyl-L-cysteine is introduced into 100 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution at 0° C. 0.2 mol of freshly distilled methacryloyl chloride stabilised with hydroquinone and a further 100 ml of 2N sodium hydroxide solution are added dropwise in parallel in such a manner that T remains at 0° C. and the pH at 11. Stirring is continued for 1 hour. The mixture is brought to a pH of 2 with 85% strength ortho-phosphoric acid with vigorous stirring, saturated with solid sodium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts are dried with magnesiumsulphate and concentrated (stabilised with hydroquinone).

Yield: 40 g=99%

[α]_(D) : +29.3° (c=1, CHCl₃).

b) N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide

0.2 mol of L-menthylamine in 300 ml of THF is added dropwise to 0.2 mol of N-methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine in 400 ml of THF at 5° C. 0.2 mol of EEDQ in 500 ml of THF is then added. Stirring at room temperature is continued for 4 days. The mixture is concentrated and taken up in 700 ml of ethyl acetate, washed 5 times with 1N hydrochloric acid, once with water, once with saturated common salt solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. The crude product is crystallised from tert.-butyl methyl ether.

Yield: 40 g=58.5%

M.p.: 153° C.

[α]_(D) : -81.4° (c=1, MeOH).

c) N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide sulphone

120 mmol of N-methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide are suspended in 400 ml of acetone, 140 mmol of the triple salt of Caro's acid (2KHSO₅ xKHSO₄ xK₂ SO₄) in 400 ml of water are added, and the mixture is stirred at 40° C. After the end of the reaction, excess peroxide is destroyed using 10% strength sodium bisulphite solution. Acetone is distilled off. The aqueous phase is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated.

Yield: 41.5 g=93 %

M.p.: 199° C.

[α]_(D) : -68.9° (c=1, CHCl₃).

Example 8

N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide (R,S)-sulphoxide

140 mmol of N-methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide (see Example 7b)) are introduced into 500 ml of glacial acetic acid. 1.2 Equivalents of 35% strength hydrogen peroxide are added dropwise at 15° to 20° C. After the end of the reaction, the mixture is concentrated at room temperature. The crude product is crystallised from tert.-butyl methyl ether.

Yield: 33 g=66%

M.p.: 194° C.

[α]_(D) : 101.4° (c=1, CHCl₃).

¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): shows 2 diastereomers in the ratio of 1:1.

Examples 24 and 25

a) (R)-Thioproline-1-menthyl ester

0.2 mol of (R)-thioproline, 0.256 mol of 1-menthol and 0.221 mol of p-toluenesulphonic acid monohydrate are refluxed in 1 l of toluene using a water separator until the theoretical amount of water has been separated off. The mixture is brought to a pH of 11-12 with 15% strength sodium hydroxide solution with cooling and extracted 3 times with toluene. The organic phase is washed once with water, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated. Excess 1-menthol is distilled off from the residue in vacuo.

Yield: 31 g=57%

[α]_(D) : -129.0° (c=1, CHCl₃).

b) (R)-N-Acryloylthioproline 1-menthyl ester

0.1 mol of triethylamine is added to 0.1 mol of (R)-thioproline 1-menthyl ester in 800 ml of dichloromethane at 0° C. 0.1 mol of acryloyl chloride in 70 ml of dichloromethane are then added dropwise at -10° C. Stirring at room temperature is continued for 1 hour. The mixture is washed with water, 1N hydrochloric acid and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated.

Yield: 31.5 g=97%

[α]_(D) : 124.9° (c=1, CHCl₃).

c) (R)-N-acryloylthioproline-1-menthyl ester (R)-sulphoxide (Ex. 24c) and (S)-sulphoxide (Ex. 25c)

1.2 Equivalents of 35% strength hydrogen peroxide are added to 72 mmol of (R)-N-acryloylthioproline 1-menthyl ester in 200 ml of ethanol:glacial acetic acid=1:1. Stirring at room temperature is continued for 8 hours. The reaction solution is concentrated. The crude product which shows 2 distinguishable product spots in the TLC (^(t) BuOMe:MeOH=95:5 as eluent) is chromatographed on silica gel using the eluents just mentioned.

Yield: 11.3 g=46% of the first fraction;

[α]_(D) :184.7° (c=1, CHCl₃)=Ex. 24c (R)-sulphoxide 3.0 g=12% of the second fraction; [α]_(D) : -95.5° (c=1, CHCl₃)=Ex. 25c (S)-sulphoxide

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Synthesis of monomers                                                           ##STR10##                                                                                                             [α].sub.D                                                                        Yield                          Example                                                                             Radical groups  Product name m.p. (°C.)                                                                    (c = 1, CHCl.sub.3)                                                                    (%)                            __________________________________________________________________________      1e  R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             174   -20.3   50                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl,                                                                           L-methionine-                                                  X = NH, A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                                                                  1-menthylamide                                                 n = 1           (S)-sulphoxide                                             2   As for 1e       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             151   -75.0   58                                                  L-methionine-                                                                  1-menthylamide                                                                 (R)-sulphoxide                                             3c  R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                              79   -33.4   81                                  R.sub.3 = menthyl, X = O                                                                       L-methionine-                                                  A = CH.sub. 2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                  1-menthyl ester                                                                (R,S)-sulphoxide                                           4   As for 3c       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             141   -18.6   92                                  but: n = 2      L-methionine-1-menthyl                                                         ester sulphone                                             5d  R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             155-  -67.4   84                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    L-methionine-                                                                               158                                               A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                   1-menthylamide                                                                 (R,S)-sulphoxide                                           6   As for 5d       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             156   -58.2   39                                  but: n = 2      L-methionine-1-methyl-                                                         amide (R)-sulphone                                         7c  R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             199   -68.9   93                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    S-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                            1-menthylamide sulphone                                    8   As for 7c       N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl                                                                     194   -101.4  66                                  but: n = 1      L-cysteine-1-menthyl-                                                          amide (R,S)-sulphoxide                                     9   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 =  CH.sub.3                                                        N-Acryloyl-   90   -23.1   62                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = O                                                                     L-methionine-                                                  A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                   1-menthyl ester                                                                (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          10   As for 9        N-Acryloyl-  173   -83.4   82                                  but: X = NH     L-methionine-1-menthyl-                                                        amide (R,S)-sulphoxide                                    11   As for 9        N-Acryloyl-   82   +62.0   84                                  but: R.sub.3 = d-menthyl                                                                       L-methionine                                                                   d-menthyl ester                                                                (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          12   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                              61   +48.6   66                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = O                                                                     L-methionine                                                   A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                   d-menthyl ester                                                                (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          13   As for 12       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             134   +29.8   78                                  but: X = NH     L-methionine-                                                                  d-menthylamide                                                                 (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          14   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                         N = Acryloyl-                                                                               167   +13.2   93                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    L-methionine-                                                  A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                   d-menthylamide                                                                 (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          15   As for 14       N-Acryloyl-  164   +17.1   79                                  but: n = 2      L-methionine-                                                                  d-menthylamide sulphone                                   16   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                         N-Acryloyl-L-                                                                               140   -11.0   95                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = O                                                                     methionine 1-menthyl                                           A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   ester sulphone                                            17   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                         N-Acryloyl-L-                                                                               156   +70.8   93                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = O                                                                     methionine d-menthyl                                           A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   ester sulphone                                            18   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                         N-Acryloyl-L-                                                                               188   -54.1   71                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    methionine-1-menthyl-                                          A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   amide sulphone                                            19   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1  = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                 N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             147   +33.1   77                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    L-methionine-d-                                                A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   menthylamide sulphone                                     20   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             110   +32.7   80                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = O                                                                     L-methionine       (THF)                                       A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   d-menthyl ester sulphone                                  21   R = H, R.sub.2 R.sub.1 = CH.sub.2                                                              (R)-N-Acryloyl                                                                              100   -244.8  71                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    thioproline-1-menthyl-                                         A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            amide (R)-sulphoxide                                      22   R = H, R.sub.2 R.sub.1 = CH.sub.2                                                              (R)-N-Acryloyl                                                                              oil   -117.4  35                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = O                                                                     thioproline d-menthyl                                          A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            ester (R)-sulphoxide                                      23   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub. 2 = CH.sub.3                                                        N-Acryloyl-L-                                                                               115   +58.0   89                                  R.sub.3 = Et, X = O                                                                            methionine ethyl ester                                         A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   sulphone                                                  24c  R = H, R.sub.2 R.sub.1 = CH.sub.2                                                              (R)-N-Acryloyl                                                                              oil   -184.7  46                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = O                                                                     thioproline 1-menthyl-                                         A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            ester (R)-sulphoxide                                      25c  As for 24       (R)-N-Acryloyl                                                                              oil   -95.5   12                                                  thioproline 1-menthyl                                                          ester (S)-sulphoxide                                      26   R = H, R.sub.2 R.sub.1 = CH.sub.2                                                              (R)-N-Acryloyl                                                                              127   -127.2  61                                  R.sub.3 = d-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    thioproline-1-menthyl-                                         A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            amide (R)-sulphoxide                                      27   R = F, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.1 = CH.sub.3                                                         N-Fluoroacryloyl                                                                            oil   +2.0    52                                  R.sub.3 = (1S)-bornyl, X = O                                                                   L-methionine                                                   A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                   (1S)-bornyl ester                                                              (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          28   As for 27       N-Fluoroacryloyl                                                                            101   +11.5   80                                  but: n = 2      L-methionine                                                                   (1S)-bornyl ester                                                              sulphone                                                  29   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                              99   +25.3   79                                  R.sub.3 = tert.-butyl, X = O                                                                   L-methionine tert.-                                            A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   butyl ester sulphone                                      30   R = H, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                         N-Acryloyl   oil   +3.8    78                                  R.sub.3 = (1S)-bornyl, X = O                                                                   L-methionine (1S)-                                             A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   bornyl ester sulphone                                     31   As for 30       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             110   -6.6    69                                  but R = CH.sub.3                                                                               L-methionine (1S)-                                                             bornyl ester sulphone                                     32   R = H, R.sub.2 R.sub.1 = CH.sub.2                                                              (R)-N-Acryloyl-thio-                                                                        204   -240.9  52                                  R.sub.3 = 3,5-dimethylphenyl                                                                   proline-3,5-dimethyl-                                          X = NH, A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                    anilide (R)-sulphoxide                                    33   R = CH.sub. 3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                 N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             125   -117.7  74                                  R.sub.3 = (S)-phenylethyl                                                                      L-methionine-(S)-                                              X = NH, A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                           phenylethylamide                                                               sulphone                                                  34   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-L-                                                                           137   -20.3   83                                  R.sub.3 = phenyl, X = NH                                                                       methionine-phenylamide                                         A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   sulphone                                                  35   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             134   +8.6    94                                  R.sub.3 = 3-pentyl, X = NH                                                                     L-methionine-3-pentyl-                                                                            (MeOH)                                      A = CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                   amide sulphone                                            36   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methylacryloyl-                                                                           oil   -21.1   65                                  R.sub.3 = ethyl, X = NEt                                                                       S-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                            diethylamide sulphone                                     37   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             128   -39.8   56                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = O                                                                     S-methyl-L-cysteine                                            A = CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                            1-menthyl ester sulphone                                  38   As for 37       N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             120   -46.8   59                                  but: n = 1      S-methyl-L-cysteine                                                            1-menthyl ester                                                                (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          39   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.2 Ph                                               N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             185   -34.0   69                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    S-benzyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                            1-methylamide sulphone                                    40   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.2 Ph                                               N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             203-205                                                                              -49.9   85                                  R.sub.3 = 1-menthyl, X = NH                                                                    S-benzyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            1-menthylamide                                                                 (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          41   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             152   -51.9   96                                  R.sub.3 = 3-pentyl, X = NH                                                                     S-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                            2-pentylamide (R,S)-                                                           sulphoxide                                                42   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             144   -34.0   57                                  R.sub.3 = 3-pentyl, X = NH                                                                     5-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           A = CH.sub.2, n = 2                                                                            3-pentylamide sulphone                                    43   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             161   -80.8   91                                  R.sub.3 = (S)-phenylethyl-                                                                     S-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           X = NH, A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                    (S)-phenylethylamide                                                           (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          44   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-                                                                             123-125                                                                              -20,8   64                                  R.sub.3 = 3-methylenyl-                                                                        S-methyl-L-cysteine-                                           pinanyl X = NH, A = CH.sub.2                                                                   3-(3S)-pinanylmethyl-                                          n = 1           amide (R,S)-sulphoxide                                    45   R = CH.sub.3 , R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                 N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-                                                                    164-165                                                                              -41,9   74                                  R.sub.3 = (R)-phenylethyl                                                                      L-cysteine-(R)-phenyl-                                         X = NH, A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                    ethylamide                                                                     (R,S)-sulphoxide                                          46   R = CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 = H, R.sub.2 = CH.sub.3                                                  N-Methacryloyl-S-methyl-                                                                    138-140                                                                              -27,1   55                                  R.sub.3 = d-neomenthyl                                                                         L-cysteine-d-neomenthyl-                                       X = NH, A = CH.sub.2, n = 1                                                                    amide (R,S)-sulphoxide                                    __________________________________________________________________________

3) Polymerisation of the optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula I on silica gel

a) Preparation of vinyl silica

600 ml of dry toluene are added to 50 g of silica gel (LiCHrosorb Si 100, 5 μ, Merck; Polygosil 100-5, Machery & Nagel) dried at 120° C. with rigorous exclusion of moisture. 100 ml of toluene are distilled off at atmospheric pressure under N₂.

After cooling to 30° C., 35 g of trichlorovinylsilane are added. The batch is heated to reflux with stirring (precision glass stirrer). 62 g of dry ethylamine in 150 ml of toluene are added dropwise over a period of one hour. Stirring at 105°-108° C. is continued overnight.

After cooling, the silica gel is filtered off with suction through a sintered glass crucible, stirred in succession in toluene, dichloromethane, methanol, methanol/water=60/40, twice in methanol and twice in dichloromethane, filtered off with suction between each treatment until thoroughly dry and finally dried at 70° C.

Analyses: C: 2.8-3.2%; H: 0.7-0.9%

b) Preparation of the chiral silica gels

3.0 g of vinylsilica, 2.0 g of monomer (see Table 2) and 40 mg of azobisisobutyronitrile are dissolved or suspended in 8 ml of toluene, toluene/heptane mixture or chloroform. The apparatus is evacuated three times with magnetic stirring and aerated with nitrogen. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, then rapidly heated to 80° C. (or 55° C. in the case of chloroform) and left at this temperature for 45 minutes. After addition of 100 mg of 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol, the mixture is rapidly cooled to room temperature. The silica gel is filtered off with suction through a G4 sintered glass crucible, stirred twice in chloroform, once in toluene and once in isopropanol for 15 minutes each time, filtered off with suction until thoroughly dry and dried at room temperature in vacuo (<0.005 atm).

Yield: 3.35 g±10%

Degree of coverage, see Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Silica gel phases                                                                                                   Bound                                                                  N content                                                                              polymer                                   Example Monomer   Solvent    [%]     [% by wt.]                                ______________________________________                                          1A      1e       CHCl.sub.3 1.0     13.2                                       2A      2        CHCl.sub.3 1.2     15.9                                       3A      3c       toluene    0.7     18.6                                       4A      4        toluene    0.55    15.2                                       5A      5d       CHCl.sub.3 0.75    9.9                                        6A      6        toluene    1.2     16.6                                       7A      7c       CHCl.sub.3 0.8     10.7                                       8A      8        CHCl.sub.3 0.7     8.9                                        9A      9        CHCl.sub.3 0.5     12.8                                      10A     10        toluene    1.3     16.6                                      11A     11        CHCl.sub.3 0.55    14.0                                      12A     12        toluene    0.65    17.3                                      13A     13        toluene    1.5     19.9                                      14A     14        toluene    1.2     15.3                                      15A     15        CHCl.sub.3 1.05    14.0                                      16A     16        CHCl.sub.3 0.35    9.3                                       17A     17        CHC13      0.6     16.0                                      18A     18        toluene    1.55    20.6                                      19A     19        toluene    0.8     11.0                                      20A     20        toluene    0.75    20.8                                      21A     21        toluene    0.7     8.5                                       22A     22        toluene    0.5     12.2                                      23A     23        toluene    1.25    23.5                                      24A      24c      toluene    0.65    15.9                                      25A      25c      toluene    0.6     14.6                                      27A     27        toluene    0.6     16.0                                      28A     28        toluene    0.5     13.9                                      29A     29        toluene    1.3     28.3                                      30A     30        toluene    0.65    17.3                                      31A     31        CHCl.sub.3 0.4     11.0                                      32A     32        CHCl.sub.3 0.9     9.8                                       33A     33        CHCl.sub.3 1.25    15.7                                      34A     34        CHCl.sub.3 1.7     19.7                                      35A     35        CHCl.sub.3 2.0     22.8                                      36A     36        toluene/   1.2     12.4                                                        heptane                                                                        (containing                                                                    0.5 g of                                                                       monomer 36)                                                  37A     37        toluene    0.3     8.0                                       38A     38        toluene    0.45    11.5                                      39A     39        CHCl.sub.3 0.85    13.6                                      40A     40        CHCl.sub.3 0.75    11.6                                      41A     41        CHCl.sub.3 1.9     19.6                                      42A     42        CHCl.sub.3 1.6     17.4                                      ______________________________________                                    

4) Polymerisation of the optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (I) to give bead polymers

Example 7B:

13.0 g of N-methacryloyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine-1-menthylamide sulphone (see monomer 7c)), 2.0 g of N,N',N"-tris(acryloyl)perhydrotriazine) (triacrylformal), 0.5 g of azobisisobutyronitrile, 45 g of trichloromethane and a solution of 4 g of polyvinyl alcohol in 130 ml of 1M phosphate buffer of pH 6.0 are introduced into a 250 ml stirred apparatus. The apparatus is evacuated several times and again filled with nitrogen. The mixture is then stirred at 425 rpm under nitrogen and polymerised at 45° C. for 15 minutes, at 50° C. for 30 minutes and at 55° C. for 14 hours. The fines<10 μm are separated off by repeated sedimentation in water, the beads are filtered off with suction, washed thoroughly with acetone, trichloromethane and again with acetone and dried at 50° C.

Yield: 13 g of bead polymers

Particle size: 10-40 μm

Bulk volume: 2.0 ml/g

Swelling volume: 4.5 ml/g (in toluene/THF=3/2 (v/v))

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bead polymers                                                                                   Crosslinking                                                                              Particle                                                                              Vb    Vs                                    Example                                                                               Monomer   agent      size   [ml/g]                                                                               [ml/g]                                ______________________________________                                         7B     7c        13.3% tri- 10-40  2.0   4.5                                                    acrylformal                                                   8B     8         13.3% tri- 10-80  1.7   4.7                                                    acrylformal                                                   ______________________________________                                    

5) Use of the optically active polymers of the S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives I as adsorbents for resolution of racemates

For the chromatographic separations, the following test racemates were used:

Racemate No. 1: binaphthol

Racemate No. 2: chlorothalidone

Racemate No. 3: mandelamide

Racemate No. 4: ibuprofenamide

Racemate No. 5: trifluoroanthrylethanol

Racemate No. 6: benzoin

Racemate No. 7: thiaprofenic acid

The polymers bound to silica gel were used in steel columns (inner diameter: 4 mm; length: 25 cm) under HPLC conditions. The products were eluted using n-heptane/tetrahydrofuran mixtures (e.g. 1:1 and 1:4 (vol/vol) or n-heptane/isopropanol mixtures (e.g.: 10:1 (vol/vol)). The eluent flow rate was 1 ml/min.

The bead polymers were used in a glass column (inner diameter: 1.2 cm; bed height: 25-30 cm) under low-pressure conditions. The products were eluted using a toluene/tetrahydrofuran mixture=3:1 (vol/vol). The eluent flow rate was 0.5 ml/min.

The results obtained in chromatographic separation of the various test racemates (enantioselectivity α and capacity ratio k₁ ') and the eluents used are summarised in tables 4 and 5. Table 4 gives two examples of the adsorbent according to the invention (n=1 and n=2 in the monomer formula I) and compares them with the analogous phase where n is 0 (monomer formula I). It can be seen that the S-oxide phases are not only superior to the sulphide phases in respect of enantioselectivity α but, very surprisingly, also operate by a different separation mechanism, as is evident from the reversal of the order of eluent of the enantiomers of test racemate No. 2 and No. 3 ((-) before (+) means that the (-)-rotary enantiomer is eluted before the (+)-rotary enantiomer (polarimeter)).

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Separation results for monomer Example 7c (n = 2) and 8 (n = 1) (HPLC)          ##STR11##                                                                     Racemate                                                                             n = 0 (sulphide)                                                                        n = 1 (sulphoxide)                                                                       n = 2 (sulphone)                                                                         Eluant                                      __________________________________________________________________________     No. 1 α = 1.23                                                                          α = 2.28                                                                           α = 2.46                                                                           n-heptane: THF =                                  k.sub.1 ' = 0.47                                                                        k.sub.1 ' = 1.08                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 0.40                                                                         1:1                                         No. 2 α = 1.84                                                                          α = 4.59                                                                           α = 3.80                                                                           n-heptane: THF =                                  k.sub.1 ' = 0.47                                                                        k.sub.1 ' k.sub.1 ' = 0.30                                                                         1:4                                               (+) before (-)                                                                          (-) before (+)                                                                           (-) before (+)                                        No. 3 α = 1.23                                                                          α = 2.57                                                                           α = 1.78                                                                           n-heptane: THF =                                  k.sub.1 ' = 0.95                                                                        k.sub.1 ' = 0.64                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 0.62                                                                         1:4                                               (+) before (-)                                                                          (-) before (+)                                                                           (-) before (+)                                        No. 4 α = 1.38                                                                          α = 1.88                                                                           α = 1.54                                                                           n-heptane: THF =                                  k.sub.1 ' = 1.62                                                                        k.sub.1 ' = 1.14                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 0.93                                                                         1:1                                         No. 5 α = 1.00                                                                          α = 1.20                                                                           α = 1.09                                                                           n-heptane: isopropanol =                          no separation                                                                           k.sub.1 ' = 1.73                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 1.01                                                                         10:1                                        No. 6 α = 1.00                                                                          α = 1.00                                                                           α = 1.56                                                                           n-heptane: isopropanol =                          no separation                                                                           no separation                                                                            k.sub.1 ' 10:1.20                                     No. 7 α = 1.00                                                                          α = 1.37                                                                           α = 1.00                                                                           n-heptane: THF =                                  no separation                                                                           k.sub.1 = 0.80                                                                           no separation                                                                            1:1                                                        (+) before (-)                                                  __________________________________________________________________________      α = Enantioselectivity                                                   k.sub.1 ' = Capacity ratio                                                     (-), (+) = Order of elution                                              

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Separation results for monomer Example 40 (n = 1)                               ##STR12##                                                                     Racemate                                                                              n = 0 (sulphide)                                                                         n = 1 (sulphoxide)                                                                        Eluent                                             __________________________________________________________________________     No. 1  α = 1.00                                                                           α = 1,79                                                                            n-heptane: THF = 1:1                                      (no separation)                                                                          k.sub.1 ' = 1.09                                              No. 2  α = 1.00                                                                           α = 5,82                                                                            n-heptane: THF = 1:4                                      (no separation)                                                                          k.sub.1 ' = 0.39                                              No. 3  α = 1.25                                                                           α = 3,30                                                                            n-heptane: THF = 1:4                                      k.sub.1 ' = 0.44                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 1.62                                              No. 5  α = 1.10                                                                           α = 1,18                                                                            n-heptane:                                                k.sub.1 ' = 0.71                                                                         k.sub.1 ' = 1.67                                                                          isopropanol = 10:1                                 No. 6  α = 1.00                                                                           α = 1,24                                                                            n-heptane:                                                (no separation)                                                                          k.sub.1 ' = 0.98                                                                          isopropanol = 10:1                                 No. 7  α = 1.00                                                                           α = 1.48                                                                            n-heptane: THF = 1:1                                      (no separation)                                                                          k.sub.1 = 0.85                                                                 (+) before (-)                                                __________________________________________________________________________      α = Enantioselectivity                                                   k.sub.1 ' = Capacity ratio                                                

We claim:
 1. Optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (I) ##STR13## in which n has the value 1 or 2,R represents hydrogen, methyl or fluorine, R₁ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₂ forms a methylene group or a dimethylene group, each of which can be mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, R₂ represents a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having up to 10 C atoms, C₆ -C₁₄ -aryl, ##STR14## C₂ -C₁₀ -acyl, benzoyl or benzyl or together with R₁ forms a bridge, R₃ represents a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical having up to 20 C atoms which is unsubstituted or mono- to trisubstituted by halogen, alkoxy having 1 to 4 C atoms, aralkoxy having 7 to 16 C atoms or aryl having 6 to 10 C atoms, X denotes oxygen or an NR₄ group in which R₄ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₃ forms a nitrogen-containing 5- to 7-membered ring which may be mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, and A represents a methylene or dimethylene group which is unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl.
 2. Compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1, in whichn has the value 1 or 2, R represents hydrogen, methyl or fluorine, R₁ denotes hydrogen or methyl or together with R₂ forms a methylene group, which can be mono- or disubstituted by methyl or monosubstituted by tertiary-butyl, or a dimethylene group, R₂ represents alkyl having up to 8 C atoms, phenyl, benzyl, benzoyl and ##STR15## or R₃ represents a C₁₀ -terpenyl radical, an adamantyl radical, a decahydronaphthyl radical, a 1-phenylethyl radical, a C₅ -C₁₂ -cycloalkyl radical, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl, or a branched C₃ -C₁₂ -alkyl radical, such as isopropyl, 3-pentyl or 5-heptyl, X denotes oxygen or an NR₄ group in which R₄ represents hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or together with R₃ forms a nitrogen-containing 5- to 7-membered ring which may be unsubstituted or mono- or disubstituted by C₁ -C₄ -alkyl- or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, and A represents a methylene, dimethylmethylene or dimethylene unit.
 3. Compounds of the general formula (I) according to claim 1, characterised in that they contain the amino acid sequence of the optically active sulphur-containing amino acids, cysteine, homocysteine, penicillamine whose SH function is first alkylated, arylated, alkoxycarbonylmethylated or linked to the amino group via an alkylene bridge and secondly has been oxidised to the sulphoxide or sulphone.
 4. Process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula (I) ##STR16## in which n, R, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given in claim 1, characterised in thatA. optically active S-oxides-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (II) ##STR17## in which n, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given under formula (I) and which, in the case of n=1, are understood to mean not only the pure diastereomers with respect to the asymmetric sulphur centre but also the mixtures, or acid addition products thereof with acryloyl derivatives of the formula (III) ##STR18## in which R has the meaning given under formula (I) and Y represents fluorine, chlorine or bromine or the radical ##STR19## are reacted, if appropriate in the presence of an acid-binding agent, in inert organic solvents, or B. optically active sulphur-containing amino acid derivatives of the formula (IV) ##STR20## in which R, R₁, R₂, R₃, A and X have the meaning given under formula (I) ,are oxidised to the optically active S-oxides of the formula (I) with oxidising agents.
 5. Process according to claim 4, wherein the oxidising agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium metaperiodate, 3-chloroperbenzoic acid, magnesium monoperoxyphthalic acid, the triple salt of Caro's acid (KHSO₅ xKHSO₄ xK₂ SO₄) and other oxygen carriers which are suitable for converting thioethers into sulphoxides and sulphones. 